Nike has suspended its partnership with and paused support for Hockey Canada as the sports organization faces increasing pressure to handle alleged sexual assaults.

Nike spokesperson Sandra Carreon-John says the athletic brand made the move because it was “deeply concerned” by the ongoing reports around Hockey Canada.

She says Nike believes “significant and substantive” action is required to support athletes and transform hockey for future generations.

The company will continue to monitor the situation and says it awaits more information around what Hockey Canada will do to support investigations into the sexual assaults.

Nike joins a growing list of top-tier sponsors including Telus Corp., Scotiabank, Tim Hortons and Canadian Tire Corp. that have pulled their support for hockey’s national governing body in recent days.

And the ripple effect across Canada continues.

Hockey New Brunswick is joining the Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Quebec and Hockey Nova Scotia in suspending its three-dollar-per-player participant fee to Hockey Canada over reports the national governing body has mishandled sexual assault allegations.

Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Northwestern Ontario have also asked that their participant fees not be transferred to Hockey Canada, which is under independent review.

Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador has stopped short of cutting ties, but said earlier this week it is proud to have recently established a sexual violence prevention program for its members.